A phoenix is a mythical bird that ignites itself towards the end of its 500-1000 year lifespan. The bird builds a nest, turns to ashes, and a new phoenix or phoenix egg rises (depending on the legend), reborn.
Some believe that the new phoenix is the offspring of the one before.
Descriptions:
Colorful, gold and scarlet (or in some legends blue, green, and purple) tail.
The size of an eagle with "mild and tender" eyes
The idea of the phoenix ranges from friendly to the suggestion that humans are not safe around them.
Significance:
The phoenix can represent immortality/incarnation because it is said to live forever and is continuously reborn.
Background:
Appears in the Bible (Job 29:18)
This "sacred fire bird" appears in the mythology of the Romans, Greeks, Persians, Chinese, Egyptians, and Phoenicians.
Often used in literature; Shakespeare's The Tempest, for example.
The Phoenix
Definition:
A phoenix is a mythical bird that ignites itself towards the end of its 500-1000 year lifespan. The bird builds a nest, turns to ashes, and a new phoenix or phoenix egg rises (depending on the legend), reborn.
Some believe that the new phoenix is the offspring of the one before.
Descriptions:
Colorful, gold and scarlet (or in some legends blue, green, and purple) tail.
The size of an eagle with "mild and tender" eyes
The idea of the phoenix ranges from friendly to the suggestion that humans are not safe around them.
Significance:
The phoenix can represent immortality/incarnation because it is said to live forever and is continuously reborn.
Background:
This "sacred fire bird" appears in the mythology of the Romans, Greeks, Persians, Chinese, Egyptians, and Phoenicians.
Often used in literature; Shakespeare's The Tempest, for example.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_%28mythology%29
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Phoenix_%28mythology%29
http://www.polarissite.net/Phoenix%20Mythology.htm